As Celtic prepare for a crucial Europa League fixture, manager Martin O’Neill has emphasized the importance of European success in revitalizing the team’s challenging domestic campaign. The Scottish champions face Utrecht at home, needing a positive result to advance to the knockout stages and inject fresh momentum.
O’Neill, overseeing the team on an interim basis, acknowledged the difficulties of a season where Celtic find themselves in a tight three-way battle for the Scottish Premiership. Despite inconsistent form, he insists European competition remains a core ambition for the club.
“We showed resilience in earlier matches,” O’Neill stated. “We don’t want to let that effort go to waste. Qualifying could provide a real boost, a renewed sense of belief as we head into a critical period.”
Failure to progress against a struggling Utrecht side would be viewed as a major setback. The match offers a welcome distraction from intense scrutiny over the club’s quiet January transfer window, which has seen only loan additions amid fan frustration.
Addressing the limited recruitment, O’Neill adopted a pragmatic stance, noting his temporary status. “My focus is on players who can help us immediately and who would also fit the vision of a permanent manager next season,” he explained. He dismissed notions of a rift with the board, expressing confidence that support is available if the right opportunities arise.
The veteran manager, who oversaw famous European nights at Celtic Park during his previous tenure, believes striving for continental success is fundamental to the club’s identity. “This club is built for these occasions. Those Champions League evenings were special, and that’s the level you should always aim for,” he reflected.
While acknowledging the current squad may lack the experience of past teams, O’Neill’s ambition remains undimmed. A strong European result is seen as a potential catalyst to steady their season and reignite the belief that has been a hallmark of his long association with the club.